MC GILLIVRAY Primary School of Canal #1 Polder, West Bank Demerara held its 18th Annual Awards Ceremony yesterday in very high spirits, since the school has produced a student in Guyana’s top 100 performers in the NGSA 2014 examinations, and has had a 25% increase in its overall performance.

Speaking to the large gathering of parents, guardians, teachers and well-wishers at the graduating exercise and awards ceremony, First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar urged that students take every step of their education seriously.

“This is only the beginning of your education. All that you have learnt here will form the basis for your secondary education and life as a whole,” she confided.

She also emphasised: “If you are to be successful adults, it is vital to study and equip yourself with a good education. In fact, I am of the conviction that it is no longer sufficient to have a basic level education in this world; almost every job requires that a person have at least a first degree.”

The First Lady noted that she has seen, over the years, a lot of girls dominating in all examinations, and she urged the boys to take up the mantle to do better and be on par with the females of our country.

The First Lady also congratulated the teachers, parents and guardians on the great job they have been doing in regard to the children’s education, and urged them to continue to play a part in their children’s education, as this will give the children additional encouragement that would be needed for their success in life.

Also speaking at the awards ceremony, Region 3, Chairman Julius Faerber congratulated the students, and urged them to continue to be diligent where their education is concerned.

Head Mistress Vashti Paul announced that thirty-one students graduated from Mc Gillivray Primary, with thirty of them being awarded places in secondary schools.

She said the school recorded an overall 77% pass rate for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations of 2014, and Arian Ramdharie, who obtained 514 marks at the exams, was awarded a place at Queen’s College. She is Mc Gillivray Primary’s Top performer for 2014, and was also listed in the Guyana Top 100 Performers at the NGSA.

Ms. Paul congratulated the graduates on a job well done, and challenged the other students to better this year’s performance. Paul said that within her one year tenure at the school, she has much to be proud of, especially since one of the students has been placed within the top 100 students who wrote the NGSA 2014.

The Headmistress also related that, recently, one of the teachers on staff graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education. “During the year, one teacher improved her qualifications, Ms. Onica Hinds; she is now a Class One Grade One teacher.”

Ms. Paul also mentioned that a computer laboratory had been constructed in 2013, but the school has only now been able to furnish it with the necessary equipment.

She said also that other rehabilitation works were done to upgrade the school’s building and environment.

In brief remarks, top graduating student Arian Ramdharie thanked her parents, relatives, and teacher Ms. Onica Hinds for aiding in her success. She also urged her colleagues to better this year’s performance, and encouraged them to study and study hard.